workplace stress and burnout | spotting the signs and finding a way through
This space is here to help you slow down, take stock and understand what might be going on beneath the surface. If you've been feeling disconnected, exhausted or unsure of how to keep going, this article gently explores the signs of stress and burnout and what might help you find your way back to yourself.
Work can be a really meaningful part of life. It gives us a sense of purpose, routine, and at times, a genuine feeling of achievement. But when the pressure keeps building and you never feel like you’re coming up for air, it starts to wear you down.
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, drained or like you’re just going through the motions lately, it might not just be a rough week. It could be something deeper ~ possibly burnout. Let’s gently unpack what that can look like, how it creeps in and what you can do to feel more grounded again.
what stress can feel like at work
We all feel stressed now and then. It’s part of life, especially when there are deadlines to meet, people relying on us, and expectations (from others and ourselves) to keep up with. But when that stress doesn’t let up, when it becomes your new normal, that’s when it starts to take its toll.
You might start to notice things like:
you’re not sleeping well or waking up just as tired as you went to bed
you’re more short-tempered or feel on edge all the time
focusing becomes harder, and small tasks feel huge
you feel tension in your body – maybe headaches, stomachaches, or tight shoulders
a constant low-level sense of anxiety or dread
you catch every bug going or just don’t feel quite right physically
you stop caring as much – not because you don’t want to, but because you’re worn down
Sometimes we don’t even realise how stressed we are until something forces us to stop or until we notice we’re not really “there” anymore, just pushing through each day on autopilot.
what It might feel like | here’s how burnout can show up:
you wake up dreading the day, every day
you feel empty, flat, or like you’ve checked out
the things that used to matter feel irrelevant
you question whether what you do even makes a difference
you feel invisible or unappreciated at work
you no longer feel like you
Burnout often creeps up gradually, so by the time you realise what’s happening, you’re already knee-deep in it.
am I stressed or is this burnout?
Stress and burnout are often lumped together, but they’re not quite the same.
stress | tends to come and go. it might be intense, but it usually has an end point ~ like a big project or a busy season and sometimes, stress can even be motivating. you feel fired up, you rise to the challenge. but that only works when you get the chance to rest and recover afterwards.
burnout | is what happens when the stress doesn’t stop. when your mind and body have been running in survival mode for too long. it’s not just about being tired ~ it’s a deep sense of exhaustion, emotionally and physically. you might feel numb, disconnected, like you’re going through the motions and can’t see the point anymore.
what actually causes burnout?
Burnout isn’t always about working long hours ~ though that certainly plays a role. it’s more about what’s behind the work: feeling out of control, like your voice doesn’t matter or that you’re constantly trying to meet demands that just don’t sit right with you.
sometimes it’s caused by:
having more on your plate than any one person can manage
working in an environment where you don’t feel supported
not feeling appreciated or recognised
being in a role that doesn’t match your values or strengths
dealing with toxic management or poor communication
never really switching off - even when you’re not at work
putting everyone else’s needs above your own
You might be a high achiever, someone who cares deeply about doing things well, ironically, it’s often the most caring and capable people who are most vulnerable to burnout ~ because they just keep going.
it’s not always about your job
It’s important to say that burnout doesn’t just happen in the workplace. You can burn out as a parent, a carer, a partner ~ in any role where the demands feel never-ending and you rarely get a chance to rest or be seen for what you're carrying.
When your identity becomes wrapped up in supporting others and there's little space left for your own needs, burnout can follow. And because there’s so much pressure to be everything to everyone, especially in personal roles, it can feel even harder to talk about it or ask for help.
But burnout isn’t a personal failing. It’s a sign that something has been too much for too long.
small steps help | but sometimes you need something bigger
The usual things ~ take a break, go for a walk, talk to a friend do help, especially in the short term. Those things can be grounding when your day feels overwhelming.
But if you’re dealing with real burnout, surface-level fixes aren’t always enough. Often you need to take a deeper look at what’s going on underneath.
That might mean:
reassessing your boundaries (and actually sticking to them)
saying no without guilt
letting go of perfectionism or the need to please everyone
exploring new directions, roles or ways of working
giving yourself permission to rest without feeling like you have to earn it
Burnout is often a sign that something needs to shift and that shift might feel uncomfortable at first. But it can also be the beginning of something healthier, more sustainable and more aligned with who you are and what matters to you.
how counselling can support you
If you’re feeling stuck, lost or just completely worn out, you don’t have to carry it alone. Counselling offers a space where you can say what you’re really thinking and feeling without judgement, pressure or expectation.
Together, we can gently explore what’s been happening, what’s weighing on you and what might need to change. That might be learning to manage stress differently, untangling unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour or simply reconnecting with the parts of yourself that have been buried under the weight of everything else.
You don’t have to wait until you’re at breaking point to talk to someone. In fact, reaching out before things reach that point can be a really powerful act of self-care.
Counselling in Farnham | You’re Welcome Here
If any of this resonates, please know you’re not on your own.
Burnout is more common than most people realise ~ and there is a way through it.
Whether you’re in the thick of it or just sensing that something needs to change, support is here.
Whenever you feel ready, I’m here to help.
you’re not alone